Foldable aeroplane-wing and the like



M. WINCKELMANN FOLDABLE AEROPLANE WING AND HE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED ocr 25,1920.

1,377,538. Patented May 10, 1921.

UNITED STATES MAX WINCKELMANN, 0F KIEL, GERMANY.

FOLDAlBLE AEROPLANE-WING AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed October 25, 1920. Serial No. 419,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX WINQKELMANN, engineer, citizen of the German Empire, residing at Kiel, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Foldable Aero planeings and the like, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an arrangement of the covering material which will permit the wings and steering surfaces of flying machines, the framing of which consists in a known manner of a network of runners and ribs, to be folded together in the plane of the ribs.

The invention consists therein that the material which goes from one rib to the other is immovably secured to the longitudinal side of a rib, and at the succeeding rib is slidably arranged in a guide in the longitudinal direction thereof.

In addition to a complete folding of the wing, the arrangement according to the present invention also permits of obtaining a transverse steering by that the one or the other wing may be more or less opened out or pulled in.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention by way of example:

Figure 1 shows a wing in its opened-out position.

Fig. 2 a wing which is a little folded together, while 3 shows a detail.

if the covering material were immovably secured to the two longitudinal sides of the ribs, and an attempt were made to swing the ribs according to 2 in the direction of the arrow, diagonal tensions on the material in the direction 6 and 7 would render this impossible. If however the material is slidably arranged on the one longitudinal side of the ribs, as is the case according to the present invention, the material at this longitudinal side automaticallyv pulls along the rib under the influence of the diagonal tensions of the material, and the ribs can be swung until they lie against the runner.

When the ribs are swung back into the normal position (Fig. 1), counter-tensions of the material arise in the direction 8 (Fi 1) which pull the material back into its normal position.

If the material is spanned straight between the ribs, as is of course understood, a displacement of the material when in the normal position at the movable longitudinal side is impossible without the ribs themselves being rocked. Should any forces have a tendency to act thereon, diagonal tensions of the material. will immediately act in opposition, which tensions, when the material is spanned straight, will not allow the smallest displacement thereof without the ribs them selves being rocked.

According to the arrangement illustrated by Way of example in Fig. 3 which illustrates the displacement of the material, the tubular rib 9 is provided on the one longitudinal side with a slit in'which slide two small angle-rails 10 and 11 arranged back to back between which the material is secured. At the opposite side of the tube the material is tightly pressed between the angle-rails.

I claim:

1. A foldable aeroplane surface having ribs and material spanned between the ribs, the material extending from one rib to the other being immovably secured to the longitudinal side of a rib, and attached to the succeeding rib in such a manner as to be capable of sliding in the longitudinal direction of the latter rib, as set forth.

2. A foldable aeroplane wing having tubular ribs formed on the one longitudinal side with a slit, angle-rails sliding in the latter, and material spanned between the ribs, the material extending from one rib to the other being immovably secured to the longitudinal side of a rib and attached to the sliding angle-rails provided in the succeeding rib as, set forth.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX WfNCKELMANN.

Witnesses:

F. GERsoHBRIoH,

E. DENKER. 

